LIVE BLOG: Georgia tries to avoid ‘trap’ against Tennessee
Bulldogs safety Bacarri Rambo goes through warmups at Sanford Stadium. (Brant Sanderlin)
ATHENS – So is this affirmation week or trap week?
Georgia plays Tennessee today. Honestly, I was a little surprised when the Glantz-Culver line (adopted by the AJC and Weekend Predictions, Inc. as the official point spread ) opened with the Bulldogs as a 15-point favorite and it immediately dropped to 13½ (though it has inched back up to 14).
The Dogs are ranked No. 5, and look like legitimate
Alec Olgetree, along with Bacarri Rambo, returns from a four-game suspension. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
title contenders. Other than some first-half hiccups in the SEC opener at Missouri, they have looked strong defensively and leveled Vanderbilt 48-3 last week. Tennessee isn’t as bad as some people think – Derek Dooley inherited a mess and really isn’t doing a bad job – but for the Volunteers’ defense to give up 555 yards at home in a 37-20 loss to Florida speaks to where the program is.
The “trap” concerns come from the fact Georgia plays at No. 6 South Carolina next week, in a game that conceivably could decide the SEC East. And, fact is, Georgia has laid some eggs against Tennessee in the past: a 45-19 loss at Knoxville in 2009, 35-14 loss at Knoxville in 2007, 51-33 loss in Athens in 2006, 19-14 loss in Athens in 2004.
But I think it’s more about this: People are waiting for something to go wrong. Georgia is 4-0, including 2-0 in the conference. It hasn’t started this strong since 2008, when it was 4-0 going into the infamous “blackout” game against Alabama, only to be body-slammed 41-30 at home.
In fact, the Dogs have not won their first three conference games in a season since 2005, when they started 5-0 (7-0 overall). Quarterback D.J. Shockley was injured and they lost the next game to Florida 14-10, as well as Auburn the following week. But they still won the SEC title that season.
The biggest news going into today’s game is the expected return of both safety Bacarri Rambo and linebacker Alec Ogletree. Coach Mark Richt has played coy on the subject all week but it has been widely reported that both players had been suspended for four games.
That’s all I’ve got for now. Time to open the cyber-venting lines. I’ll be back to chat shortly.
What are you thoughts about today’s game?
By Jeff Schultz
•
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1,545 comments Add your comment
dawglova
September 29th, 2012
6:12 pm
Bad coaching on that blocked punt
Keith
September 29th, 2012
6:12 pm
It appears we don’t have enough speed on defense to hit Bray!
oldfart
September 29th, 2012
6:12 pm
Finally. A good play by special teams.
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
6:12 pm
I think some players got some butts chewed at halftime………and then Richt asked Jesus to forgive him.
evil empire
September 29th, 2012
6:12 pm
bray has become georgia’s best player…
katherine
September 29th, 2012
6:13 pm
nice blocked punt!
Keith
September 29th, 2012
6:13 pm
It appears we don’t have enough speed on defense to get to Bray
Brownies for everyone
September 29th, 2012
6:13 pm
Whoot there it is..
dawglova
September 29th, 2012
6:13 pm
Don’t joke about Jesus Tampa….we may need him
Keith
September 29th, 2012
6:13 pm
We to come out and throw deep on first play
BobDawg
September 29th, 2012
6:13 pm
TAMPA… LOL….nice post…
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
6:13 pm
…….fire whoever coaches the special teams….or doesn’t.
Mike
September 29th, 2012
6:14 pm
@ Evil Empire…so now your complaining about Bray. What about Murray’s turnovers and the gifts we gave Tennessee in the 1st half? If not for those, we’re up 37-10.
Jeff Schultz
September 29th, 2012
6:14 pm
Georgia starting to take over again (work with me). Blocked punt by Marc Deas gives Dogs ball at UT 46. … Sidenote: Deas quit the team for a time, came back.
jerry
September 29th, 2012
6:14 pm
That Makers Mark is something. I just saw Jarvis Jones make a tackle.
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
6:15 pm
Dawglova….
Didn’t know Jesus was a defensive cornerback.
evil empire
September 29th, 2012
6:15 pm
whatever mike…the score NOW is 37-30…
Mike
September 29th, 2012
6:16 pm
I’d let Gurley run it from here on out. He doesn’t go down on first contact.
ARdawg
September 29th, 2012
6:16 pm
Makers is the good stuff
Keith
September 29th, 2012
6:16 pm
Drink is to strong, I didn’t see that one.
katherine
September 29th, 2012
6:16 pm
making fun of richt for his faith is just childish
NJDawg
September 29th, 2012
6:16 pm
Lol, why don’t you telegraph the hand off a little more Murray.
dawglova
September 29th, 2012
6:17 pm
He’d probably be awesome….waitin for Marlon brown to make a play
katherine
September 29th, 2012
6:17 pm
touchdown yesssssssss
Mike
September 29th, 2012
6:17 pm
44-30. If I was Richt I’d score 60+ in this one just to make a point.
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
6:17 pm
……….that Bennett dude can really play WR. Wow.
Keith
September 29th, 2012
6:17 pm
Told ya all! Throw the dang ball,
dawglova
September 29th, 2012
6:17 pm
Or Bennett..whatever
BobDawg
September 29th, 2012
6:17 pm
Bennett is one fast dude…
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
6:18 pm
Unbelieveable how bad the Georgia kicker is…..that might cost you big time in the future.
Mike
September 29th, 2012
6:18 pm
Nevermind, 43-30. This extra point thing is starting to get old. Special teams is our weakness.
RunninWithTheDawgs
September 29th, 2012
6:18 pm
And now all of a sudden the Dawgs are starting to look sharp again. #1 They acted like Tenn. couldn’t fight back. #2 A good azz chewing during hafltime and they’re back on track. It’s about time for Malcomb to come in a RB. He’s fresh and their D is tired.
Jeff Schultz
September 29th, 2012
6:18 pm
Another TD by Bennett.
And another botched PAT? (blocked)
But good response by offense this half.
katherine
September 29th, 2012
6:18 pm
another missed point geez
Bobo is Not the Problem
September 29th, 2012
6:18 pm
Cannot. Make. A. Freaking. Extra. Point.
FIRE MARK RICHT.
dawglova
September 29th, 2012
6:18 pm
Can Jesus kick extra point though…..really
Here we go again...
September 29th, 2012
6:18 pm
And another touchdown brought to you by Maker’s Mark!!!
Go Vols
September 29th, 2012
6:18 pm
Very true, Katherine. Richt is a darn good coach. So will Dooley, but he has a lot of poop to shovel first.
BobDawg
September 29th, 2012
6:18 pm
Nice throw by Murray also….
evil empire
September 29th, 2012
6:18 pm
not hiring a ST coach is really paying dividends…
Brownies for everyone
September 29th, 2012
6:18 pm
Fire mark richt! Fire mark richt!
Silly Bloggers
September 29th, 2012
6:18 pm
I have my Makers going…Tampa, how you feeling about LSU next week? Auburn an aberration or do you think it will be tough to score 20 on them?
BobDawg
September 29th, 2012
6:19 pm
Burp…. that Makers is tasting real good now… Ya’ll stay with the Makers Mark now!
oldfart
September 29th, 2012
6:19 pm
Dawgs should just go for two from now on.
ARdawg
September 29th, 2012
6:19 pm
Good response by the D Jeff
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
6:19 pm
All you Dawg fans who jumped ship in the first half….and there were a ton of you……your team is very, very good. You might want to jump back on…..but of course you already have and are winning the national title again.
Keith
September 29th, 2012
6:20 pm
We need a three and out here to make a point! Blitz, blitz and tackle!
rivercard
September 29th, 2012
6:20 pm
Georgia FAns – please don’t give this Gurley kid grief when he leaves for NFL the second he is eligible. He could start tomorrow for a lot of teams.
Brownies for everyone
September 29th, 2012
6:20 pm
Fire everybody!!!
Not So Fast
September 29th, 2012
6:20 pm
How can you nail 50 yard field goals like its nothing but can’t make a simple PAT! Luckily Tennessee has been just as bad on special teams.